[Demand for consultations at the Emergency Service of the "Dr. José Horwitz B" Psychiatric Institute in Santiago, Chile: comparison between 1988 and 1994].
BACKGROUND
In the last decade, there have been changes in the prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To study the diagnoses and demographic features of patients consulting the emergency wards of a public psychiatric hospital in Santiago during 1994 as compared with those of patients consulting in 1988.


METHODS
A random sample of 439 patients charts, corresponding to 3% of all consultations during 1994, were analyzed. The results were compared with consultations during 1988, analyzed in a previous study.


RESULTS
During 1994, patients were older, came alone to the emergency wards and consulted during the night with greater frequency than during 1988. In both years psychosis were the main cause of consultation. Compared to 1988, during 1994 there was an increase in the frequency of affective disorders (16 and 12% of all consultations respectively) and substance abuse (15 and 3% respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in consultations due to affective disorders and substance abuse in 1994 is in accordance with changes in the epidemiological profile of psychiatric disorders in Santiago.
Escobar
E
E
Instituto Psiquiátrico Dr J Horwitz, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Kirschbaum
A
A
Riquelme
L
L
Schürch
F
F
Núñez
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies
Demanda de consultas al Servicio de Urgencia del instituto Psiquiátrico "Dr José Horwitz B" de santiago: comparación entre 1988 y 1994.